This research examined the relationship between performance decrements and types of off task thinking, including off task thoughts, mind wanderings and wanderings without meta-awareness. Participants (n=118) were probed 5 times during a simulated driving route, wherein they self-classified their own thought types as on task, off task, mind wanderings and meta-unaware mind wanderings. Performance decrements (i.e., seconds of speeding and number of lane deviations) were objectively measured in the 14 seconds preceding the probe. When participants were most frequently mind wandering without metaawareness, the highest mean number of lane deviations and the second highest mean seconds of speeding were recorded. When participants were most frequently on task, the lowest mean seconds of speeding and second lowest number of mean lane deviations resulted. These findings suggest a relationship between off task thought types and performance decrements. Implications and future research directions are discussed herein.
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